As K P Unnikrishnan bids adieu

With the demise of K P Unnikrishnan, the curtains have fallen on a political life that once went to Delhi as a journalist from Kerala and then stood tall in national politics through intelligence and skilful work. His was a life that shone at various levels, such as former Union Minister, socialist, Congressman, diplomat, writer and orator. He was a Lok Sabha member from Vadakara from 1971 to 1996. He represented Vadakara in the Lok Sabha for seven consecutive terms. He also holds the record in Kerala for winning the same Lok Sabha seat the highest number of times in a row.

Before entering active politics, Unnikrishnan worked with publications such as Shankar's Weekly, The Times of India, and Mathrubhumi. He first contested the Lok Sabha elections in 1971 and won from Vadakara. At that time, although the KPCC had suggested another candidate, the Congress high command replaced the name with Unnikrishnan’s. Such was his influence in the Congress leadership. Since Indira Gandhi personally selected K P Unnikrishnan as the candidate, the responsibility of ensuring his victory with a huge majority fell on the state Congress leaders. Thus, the campaign in Vadakara began after erasing the wall posters of the KPCC's originally chosen candidate, Leela Damodar Menon and replacing them with Unnikrishnan's name.

Unnikrishnan later won from Vadakara both as a Congress candidate and as a candidate supported by the Left Front, showing his strong personal influence among voters. He became widely known at the national level when he served as Union Minister for Telecommunications, Shipping, and Surface Transport in the cabinet of V P Singh during 1989-90. Unnikrishnan began his political life inspired by socialist ideas. He later said in interviews that he became a Congressman because he disagreed with socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, who strongly opposed Nehru. He joined the Congress in 1959, and his early mentor in Congress politics was V K Krishna Menon. Through Menon, he became close to Indira Gandhi.

After the Emergency, he moved away from the Congress and later joined Congress (U) and Congress (S). He served as the All India General Secretary of Congress (S).

Unnikrishnan was close to several top national leaders, including I K Gujral, P V Narasimha Rao, and Pranab Mukherjee. He witnessed and took part in many important political developments in Delhi. As a Union Minister, he played a key role in bringing back Indians who were stranded in Kuwait during Iraq’s invasion. He even met Saddam Hussein in hiding to help complete the mission successfully. In his later years, Unnikrishnan stayed away from active politics and was resting at his residence in Panniyankara. His death leaves a significant void in public life.